West Midlands rated number one place for a staycation – does the public agree?

Cancel your trip to the Isles of Scilly and Port Merrion, because apparently the best place for a Great British holiday is the bostin' West Mids!

Experts at Outdoor Toys looked at a number of factors to come to this decision – the affordability of accommodation, family restaurants, activities, the range of attractions, and how many of said attractions there are to choose from in each county.

The West Midlands was found to have the most amusement and water parks on offer – 25 to be precise – and the most affordable accommodation, scoring an 8.07 out of 10. Kent came in close second with 7.85, and Cornwall was ranked as the third-best stay-at-home holiday destination with 7.35 out of 10.

There are plenty of amazing attractions in the region – Dudley Zoo and Castle, Black Country Living Museum, Himley Hall and Park, Walsall Arboretum, Stourbridge Glass Museum – to name just a few.

We asked people in West Bromwich what they thought of the news.

Partners Garry Morris and Joy Connor like the fact that there are a lot of places to go for a scenic walk.

Garry, 53, said: "There are some beautiful parks up here like Dartmouth Park and Sandwell Valley, if you want a nice walk and some beautiful scenery."

Joy, 60, says she understands why more people will be attracted to a budget-friendly holiday: "I get why they say that because of the way the economy is. So folks are looking for B'n'Bs and more economical things, really."

Husband and wife Gurdev Singh and Paramjit Kaur also enjoy the green spaces that their local areas have to offer.

Gurdev, who has lived in Tividale since 1959, says he was surprised that the region was ranked the best place for a staycation.

Sitting next to his wife and enjoying the sunshine, the 74-year-old said: "I didn't consider the Midlands as a holiday thing! We like to go to Scotland, but here we like to do what we are doing now."

Daniel Dabbs, who works in the care sector, thinks people will be more attracted to affordable areas due to the cost of living crisis.

The 21-year-old said: "It depends on where you go here. I'd rather go to Spain, but it would probably be cheaper here than it would be to go abroad, especially because of the cost of living crisis."

"Personally I enjoy Wetherspoons," he joked. "I like theme parks, but during term times they can get busy. I normally just go for walks."

More information on Outdoor Toys' staycation findings can be seen here.